Portable branch track.



J.KOBER. V PORTABLE BRANCH TRACK. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE s, 1913.

1,069,069. Patented July 29,1913.

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E STATS PORTABLE BRANCH TRACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1913.

Application filed June 6, 1913. Serial No. 772,146.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosEPI-r KoBER, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Irwin, in the county ofWestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Portable Branch Tracks, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

This invention relates to a portable branch track, especially designedfor mine and other industrial railways.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a portable branch trackthat can be easily and quickly placed in the room or entry of a mine,whereby cars can be transferred therein from a main track and the maintrack cleared whereby cars can be moved thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable branch trackhaving a hinged curved switching section that can be easily thrown intoposition upon the main track to transfer cars onto the branch or sidingtrack.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable andeasily installed branch track that will facilitate the moving of cars inand out of a mine.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in anovel construction combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan ofa portion of a main track provided with the portable branch track. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the branch track showing by dotted lines thehinged section thereof in an elevated position. Fig. 3 is an enlargedcross sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is asimilar view taken on the line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the reference numerals 1 and 2 denote main railssupported by ties 3, said rails constituting a permanent track uponwhich cars can be moved with a suitable motive power.

The reference numerals 4 and 5 denote portable rails carried by ties 6,said rails constituting a portable track that can be used for siding orbranch purposes. The rails 4t and 5 have curved ends 7 and hinged, as at8 to the curved ends of said rails is a movable section comprisingcurved rails 9 and 10 having beveled ends 11 adapted to extend onto therails 1 and 2'respectively. The rails 9 and 10, adjacent to the beveledends thereof, are connected by a brace 12 having depending ends 13adapted to engage the outer sides of the rails 1 and 2. The brace 12prevents the hinged section of the branch track from becoming laterallydisplaced relatively to the main track. It is through the medium of thehinged section of the branch track that the main track can be usedindependently of the branch track by simply swinging the hinged sectionupwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

As an instance of the use, of the portable branch track, I will assumethat the same extends into the room of a mine. It is then possible foran empty car to be shifted into the room and traffic continued on themain track. It is also possible to remove a loaded car from the roomonto the main track, raise the hinged section, shift the loaded car downthe main track, lower the hinge section, shift an empty car onto thebranck track, raise the hinge section, and then with the same motivepower that moves the empty car, the loaded car can be coupled onto andremoved from the mine. By being able to place the portable track in aroom or empty line, a miner or his helper is saved considerable labor ofcarrying coal to a main track.

One embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, but it is to beunderstood that the structural elements are susceptible to such changesas fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is The combination with a main track, of a branch track, ahinged track section carried thereby and adapted to be swung onto saidmain track, said hinged track section having the rails thereof providedwith beveled ends to engage the rails of said main track, and Intestimony whereof I affix my signature a brace eonnectlng the ralls ofsaid hinged 1n the presence of two wltnesses.

track section and havin de oendin ends to engage the outer sides f therail: of said JOSEPH KOBER 5 main track to prevent lateral movement of\Vitnesses:

the rails of said hinged track section rela- CHAS. H. SIEGEL,

tively to the rails of said main track. JOHN Bosoo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D; 0.

